Der Letzte Mann (aka The Last Laugh) (1924)

An aging doorman (Emil Jannings) at a posh hotel takes pride in his work and is proud of his standing in his community because of the "prestige" of his job. But when he is relieved of his duties and assigned to be an attendant in the hotel's men's room, he falls into a depression and begins to go downhill. Directed by Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau, the film omits any intertitle cards of spoken dialog which is rare for a silent film. Instead, it lets the visuals flow and the narrative as filmed is so precise that title cards aren't needed. It features yet another remarkable performance from Jannings although his decline from prideful to decrepit seems too rapid. While its narrative is simple, it is far from simplistic and Murnau touches on the complex relationship between a man and his work and how his work defines him. When that work is taken away, who is he? The film has a lengthy epilogue that is rather touching and sweet and makes for a "happy" ending although I would have preferred the somberness of the reality of the actual situation. With Maly Delschaft and Emilie Kurz.